U.S. patent number 11,419,452 [Application Number 16/336,321] was granted by the patent office on 2022-08-23 for sandwich press hinge.
This patent grant is currently assigned to BREVILLE PTY LIMITED. The grantee listed for this patent is BREVILLE PTY LIMITED. Invention is credited to Adam Fransen.
United States Patent |
11,419,452 |
Fransen |
August 23, 2022 |
Sandwich press hinge
Abstract
A cooking appliance such as a grill or a sandwich press that
includes an upper housing and a lower housing assembly. The housing
assemblies are connected by hinge assemblies that provide for
angular movement of the upper housing between a first position
which is adjacent the housing, and a second position at which the
upper housing is spaced upwardly of the lower housing. Each hinge
assembly includes a spring that applies a torque urging the upper
housing assembly to the second position.
Inventors: |
Fransen; Adam (Leichhardt,
AU) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
BREVILLE PTY LIMITED |
Alexandria |
N/A |
AU |
|
|
Assignee: |
BREVILLE PTY LIMITED
(Alexandria, AU)
|
Family
ID: |
1000006512449 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/336,321 |
Filed: |
September 7, 2017 |
PCT
Filed: |
September 07, 2017 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/AU2017/000189 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
March 25, 2019 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2018/064704 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
April 12, 2018 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20190274475 A1 |
Sep 12, 2019 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
|
|
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Oct 4, 2016 [AU] |
|
|
2016904014 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J
37/0611 (20130101); A47J 2037/0617 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47J
37/06 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;99/377,379,372
;16/306,304,308 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
1400195 |
|
Mar 2004 |
|
EP |
|
1669013 |
|
Jun 2006 |
|
EP |
|
2814055 |
|
Mar 2002 |
|
FR |
|
2866539 |
|
Aug 2005 |
|
FR |
|
H0722542 |
|
Jan 1995 |
|
JP |
|
Other References
International Search Report and Written Opinion for
PCT/AU2017/000189, dated Nov. 2, 2017. cited by applicant .
Extended European Search Report issued in EP 17857683.1, dated Mar.
26, 2020. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Alexander; Reginald
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Moser Taboada
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A cooking appliance comprising: an upper housing assembly; a
lower housing assembly; and a hinge assembly coupling the housing
assemblies for angular movement about a generally horizontal axis,
the angular movement providing for movement the upper housing
assembly between a first position at which the housing assemblies
are adjacent and a second position at which the upper housing is
spaced upwardly from the first position, providing for the location
of a food product between the housing assemblies for the purposes
of cooking the food product, the hinge assembly including, a hollow
portion attached to a first one of the housing assemblies and
through which the axis passes, a hollow housing located within the
hollow portion and through which the axis passes, a spring located
in the hollow housing, a part attached to a second one of the
housing assemblies and through which the axis passes, and wherein
the spring is operatively associated with the hollow portion and
the part to urge the upper housing to the second position thereof;
and the hollow housing includes a sleeve, a post located in the
sleeve so that there is a cavity between the post and sleeve, with
the spring being located in the cavity.
2. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the spring has a first
end portion engaged with the hollow housing, and a second end
portion engaged with the part, with the hollow housing being fixed
to the first hinge assembly so that there is no relative movement
between the hollow housing and first hinge assembly.
3. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the spring is a coil
spring through which the axis passes, so that coils of the spring
surround said axis.
4. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the sleeve has a
plurality of ribs and/or grooves, and the hollow portion a
plurality of ribs and/or grooves that are engaged with the ribs
and/or grooves of the hollow housing so that the hollow housing is
engaged with the hollow portion to prevent relative movement
therebetween.
5. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein said spring applies a
torque urging the first housing assembly to the second
position.
6. The cooking appliance of claim 5, wherein said spring is
configured so that the torque applied diminishes as the first
housing assembly moves from the first position towards the second
position.
7. The cooking appliance of claim 1, wherein the first housing
assembly is the upper housing assembly, and the second housing
assembly the lower housing assembly.
8. The cooking appliance of claim 2, wherein the spring is a coil
spring through which the axis passes, so that coils of the spring
surround said axis.
9. The cooking appliance of claim 2, wherein the hollow housing
includes a collar engaged with the hollow portion and the part to
sealingly connect the hollow portion with the part.
10. The cooking appliance of claim 3, wherein the hollow housing
includes a collar engaged with the hollow portion and the part to
sealingly connect the hollow portion with the part.
11. The cooking appliance of claim 4, wherein the hollow housing
includes a collar engaged with the hollow portion and the part to
sealingly connect the hollow portion with the part.
12. The cooking appliance of claim 1, further including an
anti-friction sleeve disposed between the post and an inside
diameter of the spring.
13. A cooking appliance comprising: an upper housing assembly; a
lower housing assembly; and a hinge assembly coupling the housing
assemblies for angular movement about a generally horizontal axis,
the angular movement providing for movement the upper housing
assembly between a first position at which the housing assemblies
are adjacent and a second position at which the upper housing is
spaced upwardly from the first position, providing for the location
of a food product between the housing assemblies for the purposes
of cooking the food product, the hinge assembly including, a hollow
portion attached to a first one of the housing assemblies and
through which the axis passes, a hollow housing located within the
hollow portion and through which the axis passes, a spring located
in the hollow housing, a part attached to a second one of the
housing assemblies and through which the axis passes, and wherein
the spring is operatively associated with the hollow portion and
the part to urge the upper housing to the second position thereof;
and wherein the hollow housing includes a collar engaged with the
hollow portion and the part to sealingly connect the hollow portion
with the part.
14. The cooking appliance of claim 13, wherein the part slidably
engages the collar.
15. A cooking appliance comprising: an upper housing assembly; a
lower housing assembly; and a hinge assembly coupling the housing
assemblies for angular movement about a generally horizontal axis,
the angular movement providing for movement the upper housing
assembly between a first position at which the housing assemblies
are adjacent and a second position at which the upper housing is
spaced upwardly from the first position, providing for the location
of a food product between the housing assemblies for the purposes
of cooking the food product, the hinge assembly including: a hollow
portion attached to a first one of the housing assemblies and
through which the axis passes, a hollow housing located within the
hollow portion and through which the axis passes, a spring located
in the hollow housing, a part attached to a second one of the
housing assemblies and through which the axis passes, and wherein
the spring is operatively associated with the hollow portion and
the part to urge the upper housing to the second position thereof;
and wherein the hinge assembly includes a further sleeve, the
further sleeve being located between the spring and the housing
sleeve.
Description
FIELD
The invention pertains to a grill or sandwich press and more
particularly to a grill or sandwich press having an adjustable
pressing force.
BACKGROUND
Grills and sandwich presses have upper and lower cooking plates.
Each plate is retained by a housing. The upper and lower housings
are interconnected by a hinge. A disadvantage of the grills and
presses is that the pressing force on the food between the plates
is based on the weight and position of the upper housing and its
cooking plate, with the further disadvantage that the force imposed
by the upper housing is sometimes excessive or inadequate for a
particular food or cooking process and cannot be user adjusted.
In some cooking circumstances, the effective weight of the upper
housing of the appliance is excessive. This has the disadvantage
that there is the potential to distort the shape or appearance of
the food. For example, a grilled cheese sandwich will leak more
cheese onto the lower cooking plate than is desirable.
OBJECT
The object of the present invention is to overcome or substantially
ameliorate the above disadvantage.
SUMMARY
There is disclosed herein a cooking appliance including:
an upper housing assembly;
a lower housing assembly;
a hinge assembly coupling the housing assemblies for angular
movement about a generally horizontal axis, the angular movement
providing for movement the upper housing assembly between a first
position at which the housing assemblies are adjacent and a second
position at which upper housing is spaced upwardly from the first
position, providing for the location of a food product between the
housing assemblies for the purposes of cooking the food product,
the hinge assembly including,
a hollow portion attached to a first one of the housing assemblies
and through which the axis passes,
a hollow housing located within the hollow portion and through
which the axis passes,
a spring located in the hollow housing,
a part attached to a second one of the housing assemblies and
through which the axis passes, and wherein
the spring is operatively associated with the hollow portion and
the part to urge the upper housing to the second position
thereof.
Preferably, the spring has a first end portion engaged with the
hollow housing, and a second end portion engaged with the part,
with the hollow housing being fixed to the first hinge assembly so
that there is no relative movement between the hollow housing and
first hinge assembly.
Preferably, the spring is a coil spring through which the axis
passes, so that coils of the spring surround said axis.
Preferably, the hollow housing includes a housing sleeve, a post
located in the sleeve so that there is a cavity between the post
and sleeve, with the spring being located in the cavity.
Preferably, the sleeve has a plurality of ribs and/or grooves, and
the hollow portion a plurality of ribs and/or grooves that are
engaged with the ribs and/or grooves of the hollow housing so that
the hollow housing is engaged with the hollow portion to prevent
relative movement therebetween.
Preferably, the hollow housing includes a collar engaged with the
hollow portion and the part to sealingly connect the hollow portion
with the part.
Preferably, the part slidably engages the collar.
Preferably, said spring applies a torque urging the first housing
assembly to the second position.
Preferably, said spring is configured so that the torque diminishes
as the first housing assembly moves from the first position towards
the second position.
Preferably, the first housing assembly is the upper housing
assembly, and the second housing assembly is the lower housing
assembly.
Preferably, the hinge assembly includes a further sleeve, the
further sleeve being located between the spring and the housing
sleeve.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by
way of example with reference to accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking appliance having upper
and lower housings;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a hinge assembly;
FIG. 2a illustrates, in side view, a levelling spring;
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a hinge assembly in top plan
view;
FIG. 4 is an inverted perspective view of a lower cooking
plate;
FIG. 5 is a side elevation, in cross-section, of a lower cooking
plate die-casting;
FIG. 6 are a number of diagrams that illustrate the handedness of a
coil spring;
FIG. 7 is a selective cross-section illustrating the orientation
between openings for a torsion spring according to FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a top perspective view of a lower cooking plate;
FIG. 9 is a cross-section schematic view of an embodiment of an
alternate adjustable tension spring;
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional schematic view of an embodiment of an
alternate adjustable tension spring;
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional schematic view of an embodiment of an
alternate adjustable tension spring;
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment of
an adjustable hinge spring;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an adjustment mechanism when
engaged;
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an adjustment mechanism, when
disengaged;
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view through a lower housing
illustrating the provision of protective compartments; and
FIG. 16 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of a hinge housing
employed in the cooking appliance of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in FIG. 1, an electrical food cooking appliance 100, such
as a grill or sandwich press, has an upper housing (assembly) 101
and a lower housing (assembly) 102 each having cooking plates 107,
108 that are brought together, face to face. The upper 101 and
lower housings 102 are interconnected by one or more hinge
assemblies 103, 104. A handle 105 controls the movement of the
upper housing 101. The handle 105 has a grip 109 and hinged side
arms 110. A coil spring or other protective flexible housing 106 is
used to protect the electrical cord that is required to power the
heating element contained in the upper housing 101. The pressing
force on food in the appliance 100 is conventionally governed by
the weight of the upper housing 101 (including the handle 105 or
otherwise) and the location of the upper housing 101. In general,
the effective pressing force of the upper housing is reduced in
accordance with a degree to which the upper housing 101 is opened.
The upper housing 101 pivots about the axis 343 provided by the
hinge assemblies 103, 104.
The example shown in FIG. 1 utilises a pair of hinge assemblies
103, 104 provided as a left-right mirror image pair. Each hinge
assembly 103, 104 has within it a spring 207 or bias element such
as a tension spring 207. The hinge assemblies 103 and 104 provide
for angular movement between the housings 101 and 102 about axis
343, with the upper housing 101 being movable between a first
position at which the housing 101 is adjacent the housing 102, and
a second position at which the housing 101 is spaced upwardly from
the housing 102. One end of each spring 107 is fixed and the other
end is indirectly connected to the upper housing 101. The springs
207 exert a torque or opening force on the upper housing 101 that
decreases as the upper housing 101 is opened. The spring 207 urges
the housing 101 to the second position thereof, but in this
embodiment applies insufficient torque to move the housing 101 from
the closed position. However, the spring 107, by urging the housing
101 to the open position, at least aids a user in moving the
housing 101 toward the open position by at least partly supporting
the weight of the housing 101.
Although a left-right mirror image pair is preferred for reducing
racking and improving levelness of the upper plate 101, it is
envisaged an alternate embodiment would utilize a single biased
hinge assembly 103, 104 on either the left or right side. In this
alternate embodiment the non-biased hinge assembly 103, 104 is
slaved to movement of the biased hinge assembly 103, 104 as
translated by the interjoining side arms 270, 271 and handle
105.
An exploded view of a hinge assembly 104 is shown in FIG. 2. Each
hinge assembly 103, 104 has a fixed and non-rotating hollow barrel
portion 200. The barrel portion 200 receives a non-rotating hollow
hinge housing 201. The hinge housing 201 is preferably made from a
temperature resistant material such as PPS that also provides
thermal insulation. The housing 201 and the barrel portion 200
interconnect through an arrangement of longitudinal grooves and
cooperating ribs 202, 203. In this example, the longitudinal ribs
203 are on the housing 201. The housing 201 has an upper collar 204
that abuts the rim 205 of the barrel 200. A decorative ring 206 may
be used to conceal the collar 204. The ribs 202, 203 prevent
relative movement between the barrel portion 200 and housing
201.
The hinge housing 201 contains the spring 207. In this example, a
torsional tension spring 207 is formed as an axial coil. The coil,
and therefore spring 207, has axially extending opposite ends 208,
209. The spring 207 fits around and is stabilised by the centre
post 210 of the housing 201. The centre post 210 has a central
longitudinal bore 230 for receiving the threaded end of the
fastener 211. An anti-friction sleeve 250 may be interposed between
the centre post 210 and the inside diameter of the spring 207. The
sleeve 250 is fabricated as a cylinder of heat resistant low
friction polymer, such as polyoxymethylene (POM). The housing 201
includes an outer sleeve 232 that surrounds the post 210, with a
cavity 233 between the sleeve 232 and post 210. The spring 207 is
located in the cavity 233. The axis 343 passes through the barrel
portion 200, spring 207 and housing 201.
With reference to FIG. 16, the housing 201 includes an annular lip
234 on the post 210, that engages the sleeve 250, to limit movement
of the sleeve into the cavity 233. The internal surface 235 of the
post 230, that surrounds the bore 230, has a plurality of
longitudinally extending ribs 236 that engage the threaded fastener
211 to secure the threaded fastener 211 to the housing 201. The
housing 201 also has a passage 237 that receives the end 208 of the
spring 207, to fix the end 208 relative to the housing 201. The
housing 201 also has an annular recess 238 to receive the boss 239
of the handle end 212. The housing 201 also includes a recess 239
that receives an internal boss 239 of the barrel portion 200. The
recess 238 is connected to the board 230 by a passage 240 into
which the threaded fastener 211 may extend.
As will be explained, one end 208 of the torsional spring 207
engages the non-rotating hinge housing 201. The opposite end 209
engages the handle end 212. Accordingly, as the handle 105 and
upper housing 101 rotate about the hinge 103, 104, the spring 207
extends or unwinds, imposing an ever greater tension or opening
force as the upper housing 101 closes.
As shown in the example of FIG. 2a, a spring 261 such as a torsion
or leaf spring 261 is interposed between one or both lateral arms
270, 271 and the upper housing 101. The upper housing 101 has pivot
points 272, 273. The upper housing 101 is engaged by the arms 270,
271 via the pivoting points 272, 273. In the example of FIGS. 2 and
3, the spring 261, is retained by a post 274 that extends laterally
from one or both sides of the upper housing 101. The post 274 is
received by the internal bore 231 of the spring 261 and allows one
end 260 of the spring 261 to engage the upper housing 101. The
other end of the spring 261 bears on or is received by the adjacent
arm 270, 271. With reference to FIG. 2A, the spring 261 exerts a
force on the upper housing 101 that tends to rotate the upper
housing 106 in a way that counteracts the forces imposed by the
protective housing 106.
The spring 261 is calibrated so that the upper housing 101 and the
lower housing 102 are approximately parallel when the upper and
lower cooking plates 107, 108 are separated by a distance 280 that
is representative of a typical cooking process such as the
thickness of a two slice sandwich. When the upper and lower cooking
plates 107, 108 are further apart, distance 281, the front edge 282
will be higher than the lower edge 281 of the upper cooking plate
106. When the separation is less than the point where the plates
are parallel, position 282, the front edge 282 will be lower than
the rear edge 281.
As shown in FIG. 3, the ribs 300 formed on the exterior of the
housing 201 may be tapered so as to cooperate and fit tightly with
tapered grooves 301 formed around the interior bore 230 of the
barrel portion 200. The barrel portion 200 may also have a tongue
302 that extends beyond the rim 205. In this example, the tongue
302 is moulded integrally with the barrel portion 200 which is
itself part of the upper heating plate die casting 303. The tongue
302 engages a longitudinal slot formed on an exterior of the
housing 201. This slot may extend so as to form a gap 220 (see FIG.
2). The combination of ribs 300 and tongue 302 provide for a rigid,
stable torsional interconnection between the housing 201 and the
barrel portion 200.
The barrel portion 200 has a floor 304 with an axial opening 305
for receiving the inner or spring end 208 of the spring 207. The
outer or handle end 209 of the spring 207 is received by an axial
receptacle or bore 310 formed in the hinge end 311 of the handle
arm end 212.
The hinge end 311 of the arm 330 may also have a cylindrical or
slightly tapered plug 312 that is received within the spring 207
and acts as a guide for the spring 207. An anti-friction washer 313
is interposed between the sealing face 314 of the arm end 311 and
its mating surface, the front face 315 of the barrel portion 200.
The hinge screw 320 inserts from the hinge end of the arm 311. The
head of the fastener is received by recess 221 (see FIG. 2). The
fastener 320 extends through the arm end 311, the washer 313, the
spring 207 and the housing 201. The threaded end of the fastener
320 is received by a threaded bore 350 formed centrally with the
barrel 201. The fastener 320 has a shoulder 321 that abuts the
upper surface of the floor 304 of the housing 300. Because the
shoulder 321 stops the advancement of the fastener 320, the length
of the fastener's shaft 322 can be used to accurately control the
location of the face 314 of the handle's arm 270, 271 relative to
the front face 315 of the housing 201. By controlling this
distance, the compression forces acting on the anti-friction washer
313 can be accurately limited, resulting in lower friction when
operating the handle.
In the example of FIG. 3, the total handle assembly has two arms
330, 331. Each arm 330, 331 has a hinge end 311 that conforms to
the outer surface of the rear corner of the upper housing 101. The
each arm 330, 331 conforms to the shape of the plate 303, but
departs from the shape of the plate 303 at a forward location 332
where the arm 330, 331 extends away from the plate 303 to form a
grip attachment portion 333. A grip 334 for example a curved grip
is interposed between the two arms.
The hinge end 311 may also have a projecting rib or bumper 340 that
is adapted to make contact with the tongue 302. The tongue 302
interferes with the rotational movement of the bumper 340 and
therefore acts as a limit of travel of the handle.
As shown in FIG. 4, the lower cooking plate casting 400 provides a
number of integral features. The casting 400 has a peripheral rim
402 that defines the extent or dimensions of the lower cooking
surface 401. The underside has an integral elevated track 403 for
locating a heating element. The casting provides integral
stand-offs 404 and the integral hinge barrels 405, 406. It is an
advantage to limit the amount of heat migrating from the heating
elements to the spring 207. Because the spring 207 is within the
barrel 405, 406, limiting heat transfer to the barrels is also an
advantage. Thus, it is an advantage to remove material from the
area that interconnects the barrels 405, 406 with the remainder of
the casting 400. To this end, spaced apart struts 407, 408 are used
to interconnect the barrels 405, 406 with the remainder of the
casting 405. This effectively creates a void 409 in the area where
the barrels 405, 406 connects to the remainder of the casting 405.
The gap between the struts 407, 408 admits air into the void 409
providing high surface area and therefore better cooling and
insulation, relative to the barrels 405, 406.
As shown in FIG. 5, the integral casting 400 includes the
longitudinal grooves 500 on the inner wall of the barrels 405, 406.
The void 409 in the area of the joining of the barrels 405, 406 and
the remainder of casting 400 is seen as being defined by an air
space or deliberate increase of surface area in the area 501 where
the barrels 405, 406 is closest to the rim 402 or proximal cooking
surface 502.
FIG. 6 illustrates that the left and right springs 207, 601, 602
are mirror images of one another and have different coil handedness
603, 604. The possibility exists that in an assembly or repair
environment, left and right springs 601, 602 could be inadvertently
confused for one another. To make it more obvious that assembly is
being attempted with the wrong spring, the axially extending handle
end 605, 606 is radially displaced by or out of phase with the
hinge end 607, 608 by 90 degrees 609. To prevent inadvertent
interchange, each has a different direction of displacement. For
the left spring 601, there are seven and one quarter turns between
the handle end and the hinge end extensions 605, 607. This means
that the hinge end 607 is 90.degree. ahead of the handle end 605
for the right hand screw 602 the handle end 606 is 90.degree.
behind.
As shown in FIG. 7 the holder 700 is contained within the barrel
701. An opening 702 in the floor 703 of the holder 700 receives the
hinge end 607, 608 of a spring 601, 602. Unless the handle end 605,
608 is in alignment with the opening 310 in the hinge end 311 of
the handle 212, the axially aligned extensions 605, 607 and 606,
608 do not engage both holes 702, 310. Thus, the assembler can be
made instantly aware that a spring of different handedness is
required.
As shown in FIG. 8, the left and right barrels 801, 802 are mirror
images of one another. In order to maintain the phase or
displacement relationships between the holes 702, 310 (see FIG. 7)
it is preferred that mirror image left and right hinge housings 300
be provided.
In the aforementioned examples, the spring is not user adjustable.
The spring constant of the spring is engineered to provide a useful
range of pressing force over a useful range of motion of the upper
housing. However, in some embodiments, the value of the pressing
force at any given position of the upper housing may also be user
adjusted. When more pressing force is required, the spring within
each barrel may be tensioned or pre-tensioned to create that
increase. Tensioning the internal spring is accomplished
(independently of the movement of the handle) by increasing the
angle between the handle extension 605, 606 and the hinge extension
607, 608 of a given spring 601, 602. In the previous examples, one
end of each spring is essentially fixed while the other end rotates
in an arc of motion defined by the movement of the handle. In the
examples of FIGS. 9 to 11, the hinge end of the spring is provided
with a user adjustable range of motion. The spring may be adjusted
when the upper housing is in any position. Adjustment effectively
increases (or decreases) the spring constant and the pressing force
throughout the range of motion of the handle.
The example of FIG. 9 provides a simplified axial view of the
inside of the barrel 920. A coil spring is bent or wound around the
central post 930 of the hinge housing 201. One end 901 of the
spring 910 is attached to a rotating arm of the handle. The other
end 900 is attached to a rotating element. The rotating element is
driven by a knob, as will be explained. With respect to FIGS. 9 and
10, it is shown that adjusting the hinge end 900 away from the
handle end 901 (for any handle position) elongates the spring 910
and thereby increases the tension in the spring and reduces the
pressing force 1000. In this same handle position, further
increasing the displacement of the hinge end 900 further lengthens
the spring 910 and creates and even smaller pressing force over the
entire range of motion of the handle and upper housing 101.
Conversely, reducing the effective distance between hinge end 901
and the handle end 900 has the opposite effect, increasing the
effective weight of the upper housing.
Another embodiment of an adjustable force hinge mechanism is shown
in FIG. 12. By way of example, the right arm of the handle assembly
1200 is retained against a fixed hinge plate 1201 that is either
fixed to or diecast into the remainder of the lower cooking plate
1203. The hinge end 1204 of the arm has a pivot recess 1205 and
central through opening 1206 for receiving a shaft 1207 that passes
through the arm and engages a locating opening 1208 in the hinge
plate 1201. The shaft 1207 has a stepped stub 1209 that guides the
motion of the hinge end 1204 and centres the shaft 1207 with
respect to the opening 1208. The hinge end 1204 of the arm has an
opening 1210 for receiving the hinge end axial extension 1211 of
the coil torsion spring 1212. The spring fits over and is
stabilised by the outside diameter of the shaft 1207.
A collar 1213 is affixed to the distal end of the shaft 1207 by one
or more fasteners 1214. The collar 1213 locates the spring 12
axially but does not interfere with the movement of the axially
adjustment end 1215. The collar 1213 has a slot or opening 1216
that allows the adjustment end 1215 to have a range of radial
motion. A compression spring 1217 is received within the sidewalls
1218 of the collar 1213. The compression spring 1217 urges an
adjustment plate 1219 against the fixed cover plate 1220. The cover
plate 1220 has a pair of arcuate slots 1221 that allow the
adjustment plate 1219 to be connected to the knob 1222 by (for
example) a pair of axial fasteners 1223. This arrangement allows
the adjustment plate 1219 to move both radially and axially with
respect to the cover plate 1220. The adjustment plate has an array
of axial fingers 1224 that engage and disengage from cooperating
openings 1225 formed around a diameter of the cover plate 1220
thus, the adjustment plate 1219 and cover plate 1220 form a clutch.
By pressing the knob 1222 against the force of the spring 1217, the
adjustment plate 1219 can be disengaged from the cover plate 1220.
Rotating the knob 1222 when it is pressed in causes a change in the
displacement between the spring ends 1211, 1215. The adjustment to
the spring tension is captured when the adjustment plate 1219 and
cover plate 1220 are re-connected. In preferred embodiments, the
adjustment end 1215 is affixed to an opening 1250 in the adjustment
plate 1219. Because there are more spaced apart clutch openings
1225 in the cover plate than fingers 1224, the adjustment plate can
assume a number of stable positions relative to the fixed cover
plate 1220. Each position defines an extent of displacement between
the spring ends 1211, 1215. Moving the knob in one direction
increases the pressing force and moving the knob 1222 in the
opposite direction reduces the pressing force.
As shown in FIG. 13, when the adjustment plate 1300 is engaged with
the cover 1301 the adjustment end 1302 becomes fixed relative to
the cover 1303. The hinge end 1304 of the torsion spring 1305 is
free to rotate with the arm 1306 and the handle.
As shown in FIG. 14 when the knob 1400 is pushed in, it disengages
the adjustment plate 1300 from the cover plate 1301. This allows
the knob 1400 to be rotated independently of the cover while still
mechanically attached to the adjustment end 1302 of the spring
1305.
FIG. 15 illustrates a lower housing 1500 within which are located
multiple compartments. In this example, the lower cooking plate
1501 and its heating elements 1502 are supported peripherally by an
upper part 1503 of the lower housing 1500. The upper part 1503 has
an outwardly turned, peripheral upper rim or lip 1504 that defines
a gap 1505 between the lip 1504 and the rim 1506 of the lower
cooking plate. The gap 1505 forms a vent around the perimeter of
the upper part and allows hot air to escape. The upper part 1503
may be tapered toward the rim of contact 1508 with the separately
formed lower part. The upper part 1503 preferably has a continuous
or practically continuous lower floor 1509. The floor 1509 of the
upper compartment 1503 isolates and protects the contents of a
lower compartment 1510 from an upper compartment 1511 which is
closer to the heating elements 1502. A downward facing rib 1512
formed on an underside of the upper part's floor 1509 can cooperate
with an upward facing rib 1513 formed on an upper surface of the
lower part 1507. These ribs 1512, 1513 coincide to form a third or
further compartment 1515. In this example, an isolated power switch
compartment 1515 is formed. The compartment may contain one or more
vents 1516, particularly on lower or floor surface. The compartment
1515 is adapted to contain a power switch 1517. Within the lower
housing, the hottest air is to be found in the area 1518, below the
cooking plate and above a protective shield 1519. Air in the
remainder of the first compartment 1511 is not as hot. Air in the
second compartment 1520 is generally cooler than air in the first
compartment. The second compartment 1520 may be provided with vents
1521 through its floor. Air in the third compartment 1515 is cooler
than air in the second compartment 1520.
Although the invention has been described with reference to
specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the
art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.
As used herein, unless otherwise specified, the use of the ordinal
adjectives "first", "second", "third", etc., to describe a common
object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects
are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the
objects so described must be in a given sequence, either
temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.
Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an
embodiment" or "example" means that a particular feature, structure
or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is
included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus,
appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an example"
in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily
all referring to the same embodiment or example, but may.
Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics
may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one
of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more
embodiments.
Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the above description
of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the
invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment,
figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the
disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the
various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is
not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed
invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each
claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects
lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed
embodiment. Any claims following the Detailed Description are
hereby expressly incorporated into this Detailed Description, with
each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this
invention.
Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some
but not other features included in other embodiments, combinations
of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the
scope of the invention, and form different embodiments, as would be
understood by those in the art. For example, in the following
claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any
combination.
Thus, while there has been described what are believed to be the
preferred embodiments of the invention, those skilled in the art
will recognize that other and further modifications may be made
thereto without departing from the scope of the invention, and it
is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall
within the scope of the invention.
While the present invention has been disclosed with reference to
particular details of construction, these should be understood as
having been provided by way of example and not as limitations to
the scope of the invention.
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